This was in today's Mass Moments and the piece gives an idea how much work was involved in running a plantation or larger acreage in the 1700's. I am posting as think it is describes the life and labor of women very well. http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=338 Have yet to find any plantation owners among my ancestors, but definitely found some who lived on them in both Mass. & Maine plus my Mays who worked on the Livingston Plantation in New York. Lauraine